Red Sox Opponent Offered $500 Reward To Snap Aroldis Chapman Streak

Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman allowed a hit for the first time since July 23 last Wednesday. An opponent narrowly missed the chance to make the moment extra sweet.

Chapman went 50 batters without yielding a hit before permitting two in a 5-4 loss to the Athletics. Lawrence Butler hit a walk-off single to drive home Shea Langeliers, who broke the streak with a double.

Despite calling game, Butler wished he had gotten to Chapman before his teammate. The outfielder told MLB Network on Tuesday’s “Intentional Talk” that A’s slugger Brent Rooker offered a reward to the person who halted the southpaw’s hit drought.

“What’s gonna stick me is I didn’t get the $500 that Rooker was giving out [to] whoever broke the streak,” Butler said.

Rooker lined out before Butler scorched a 100-mph heater the opposite way. The 25-year-old said he guessed right in the key spot.

“He’s a good pitcher. He throws pretty hard out there,” Butler said of Chapman. “I figured he was gonna throw me a fastball; I was sitting fastball. I’m just glad he threw it down the middle.”

Rooker signed a five-year, $60 million extension before the 2025 season, so the All-Star could probably afford to also give Butler the $500 for his clutch hit. Then again, Butler should be just fine without that bounty. The A’s locked him down to a seven-year, $65.5 million contract before Opening Day.

Chapman also surrendered two hits and a run in his next outing, but he bounced back to close Sunday’s 6-4 win over the New York Yankees with a one-two-three inning. The 37-year-old has a pristine 1.26 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 30 saves this season.